WD-40 won't do the trick, but a few of choice tools—or a plumbing pro—can Q: I would like to remove my old tub drain, but it won't budge. I imagine it's supposed to unscrew, so I tried squirting it with WD-40 and tapping it lightly, to no avail. What should I try next? —Don Justin, Crystal Lake, Ill. A: Richard Trethewey replies: WD-40 isn't going to help you. A tub drain is threaded into a horizontal pipe called a waste shoe, and sealed under its flange with a foam washer or plumber's putty. This seal is what's preventing the lubricant from reaching the drain's threads. Plumbers have specialized tub-drain removers and pop-up plug wrenches for this purpose, but you can make your own drain remover with a pair of slip-joint pliers and a beefy screwdriver. Slide the pliers' handles down the drain, past the X-shaped metal arms or crosshairs inside, then put a screwdriver between the handles and use it like a lever to unscrew the drain. At first you'll need a bit of muscle to break the putty's grip, but once you do, the drain usually comes out easily.
If the crosshairs are broken or missing, you'll need a tool called a drain key, which can be tightened against the inside of the drain. One caution: If you somehow damage the waste shoe, it'll be a real nuisance getting everything back together. So if your goal is to remove the tub, then go for it. But if you just want to replace the drain, call a plumber.Leaky BathtubBathtub PlugBathtub DrainsBathtubsMoms BathroomMaster Bedroom BathroomBathroom SmallUpstairs BathroomBathroom StorageForwardhow to fix or replace a bathtub drain stopper. hoping this will get the tub to stop draining and actually plug upPhoto 1 shows how to remove the overflow plate, the stopper body and linkage. The linkage may stick and be stubborn to remove. Grab hold of it and tug hard until it pops out. Screw on the new overflow plate once the linkage has been removed. The toughest part of the job is removing the old stopper body, but it’s all downhill after that. Remove the old stopper body as shown in Photo 2.
If you’re having trouble unscrewing it, try heating it with a hair dryer set on “high.” The heat may help loosen the old plumber’s putty. The old stopper body can also be cut out with a reciprocating saw and metal blade, but be very careful because it’s easy to cut into and damage the bathtub. All that’s left is to install the new stopper body and stopper. Slide the new rubber gasket on top of the drainpipe under the tub and insert the new drain flange with plumber’s putty on it as shown in Photo 3. Use the supplied bushing if the new threads are different from the old. Screw the stopper into the stopper body and congratulate yourself on a job well done.1. Live in a rental apartment.(Like if you live in a rental apartment and your lease just expired and you don’t want to remind your landlord to increase your rent.)(Or, you own a house.) 1. Go on the internet for a while, really just read up on all your options. Did you know you can become your own plumber after just like, 10 minutes on WikiHow?
And some people pay for that? HA.2. Decide that based on your extensive research, the problem is obviously that there is a big clump of hair just below the drain cover, god this is so easy, why do plumbers even exist.3. Find a screwdriver so you can unscrew the screw holding on the drain cover. It’s probably in the box of crap in the back of your closet. Okay then it’s in the box of crap on that tall shelf. Okay what else can you use as a screwdriver. Go get a butter knife. But wait, there on the metal bar that the pervious tenants put up on the wall to hold all the knives! 4. Unscrew drain cover with screwdriver and not butter knife. Pull screw through, lift drain cover dramatically, brace self for HAIRBALL FROM HELL.6. I was so sure it was going to be there and nothing is there. This is really disappointing.7. Okay, plan B: Watch some YouTube videos. (Watch the first minute of some YouTube videos.) Make your own snake with a metal coathanger.8. Try to put your coat hanger into the pipe in order to clean it out.
Have fun with that. “Make sure not to push anything further into the hole.” I can’t see anything, but okay. Okay guess what: It does not work. You just end up getting the hanger stuck in the drain. Back to the internet.9. YouTube: “How To: unclog a bath tub drain the right way.” “Stopped up drain causes soap scum and water at your ankels when showering.” Okay tell me less.10. Okay, gregory747 says you don’t have to make your own snake out of a metal coat hanger. Instead, he says if you take out the the pop up drain stopper, that’s where all the hair actually is. Big wad of hair. Truly disgustingly large wad of hair. This is going to be epic. I mean look at what he found!11. This is so great, god. I am so capable. Unscrew metal plate on popup drain stopper. Pull drain stopper out from scary dark hole that goes down to drain. It’s kind of wonky. Is it going to break? God I hope not? Pull hard on rusted metal, just yank it, it’s okay, it’s fine. AH HA, ALL WORTH IT, HERE IT COMES.
Except — no hair. Not one strand, of hair, on the popup drain stopper.12. Throw popup drain stopper down in fit of annoyance.13. Make sure your hissy fit didn’t scratch enamel on tub. 14. But even if it had it’d be fine, you can just look up that on YouTube, obviously it’s all soooo easy, isn’t it. Stupid people wanting stupid clicks will say anything to get you to go on their stupid sites even if they have no idea what they’re talking about. DIY on the internet is dead. I’m buying some Drano. But first let me just check to see if unscrewing either of these things I unscrewed didn’t fix the problem. I mean, you never know. Let me just turn this water on right quick and see if it drains.16. Actually another one of the things to try was to put boiling water down the drain, so maybe I’ll just turn the hot all the way up and try that while I’m at it.17. Ha now the tub is not draining at all.18. Like, not even slowly. What a fun hour this has been. Google: “Can you use drano if your bathtub is filled with water” (No.)20.